A.—6

"111. The Conference, being impressed with the potentialities of the cinema as a means of disseminating the results of scientific research for example, among agricultural producers —recommends that steps should be taken to stimulate the production of instructional films having a common interest to more than one part of the Empire, and to secure closer co-operation and exchange of information between the authorities producing such films, and that this proposal should be referred for the consideration of the Empire Marketing Board."' (I) Standardization of the Form of Invoices and Certificates thereon. The imperial Economic Conference of 1923 recommended two standard forms of invoice and certificates of value and origin for adoption respectively by those parts of the Empire which levy ad valorem duties on the basis of (1) the current domestic value of goods in the country of export, and (2) the invoice values of goods. The former was based on a form drawn up and recommended by the Imperial Customs Conference, 1921. Although, with certain important exceptions (due for the most part to the fact that the parts of the Commonwealth concerned do not levy ad valorem duties on either of the above-mentioned bases), the invoices and certificates now required by most parts of the Empire are more or less in conformity with one or other of the standard forms recommended by the Conference of 1923, there exist numerous divergencies. The matter was referred for examination to the General Economic Committee, who came to the ((inclusion that it was impracticable to devise a standardized invoice form which would be at once convenient to shippers and acceptable to the Customs authorities of all parts of the Empire. The committee were, however, of opinion that technical difficulties in regard to certificates of origin would be greatly lessened if it were possible to arrive ai a common understanding of the principles which should determine the distinction between Empire and non-Empire goods. On the recommendation of the General Economic Committee, the Conference adopted the following resolution :— •■ The Conference, recognizing the advantage of maintaining the greatest measure of uniformity in the form of invoices and certificates thereon, expresses the hope that the forms recommended for adoption by the Imperial Economic Conference of 1923 will be adhered to as closely as possible, and further recommends that an inquiry should be made into the possibility of arriving at a common understanding with regard to the principles which should determine the distinction between Empire and non-Empire goods." (m) Other Subjects. The (ieneral Economic Committee also considered the questions of the avoidance of obstacles to the free entry of books, periodicals, and newspapers, and of an Empire mark of origin. The Conference, however, did not pass any resolutions on these subjects. XXI. CONCLUDING RESOLUTIONS. At the concluding meeting, the Conference adopted the following resolution : " The Imperial Conference desires to place on record its appreciation of the work accomplished by the Chairmen and members of the various committees and sub-committees which have been engaged in the discussion of the various subjects remitted to them. " The Conference is convinced that the detailed study of these subjects in committee has been of very great value not only in facilitating the work of the Conference but also in affording eu opportunity for establishing closer personal association among those who are engaged in similar work in various parts of the Commonwealth." The Conference also passed the following resolution at its last meeting:— •■ Before the meetings of the present Imperial Conference terminate, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his colleagues desire to place on record the great pleasure which it has given them to welcome in London the Prime Ministers of the Dominions and other representatives from overseas.

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